Seattle police say concerns tied to human trafficking and sexual exploitation were a key factor in declaring Club Dollhouse on Aurora Avenue North a chronic nuisance property. The designation follows a multi-month investigation into repeated criminal and safety violations at the strip club, which sits along one of Seattle’s most scrutinized corridors for prostitution and trafficking activity.
According to the Seattle Police Department, the investigation uncovered a pattern of illegal behavior that went beyond isolated incidents. Officers cited prostitution-related activity, potential human trafficking indicators, and unsafe working conditions connected to the business. SPD leadership said these findings met the legal threshold required to invoke the city’s chronic nuisance ordinance.
Police also reported discovering illegal alcohol sales inside the club, along with firearms left unsecured on the premises, raising serious public safety concerns. SPD Chief Shon Barnes said the presence of guns inside a business already under investigation for exploitation and vice activity significantly escalated the city’s response.
Under Seattle law, a chronic nuisance designation allows the city to compel a business and property owner to address ongoing safety risks. In this case, the owners of Club Dollhouse have been given seven days to work with city officials and police on a corrective action plan. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to $500 per day, with total penalties reaching $25,000.
City officials say the enforcement action is part of a broader effort to address long-standing issues along Aurora Avenue North, a corridor that has drawn repeated complaints from residents, businesses, and advocacy groups about trafficking, violence, and open prostitution. SPD has emphasized that nuisance designations are intended to pressure property owners to prevent criminal activity rather than simply punish individual workers.
While the chronic nuisance label does not automatically shut the business down, it places Club Dollhouse under heightened scrutiny. Continued violations could lead to stronger enforcement actions, including court involvement or potential closure if safety conditions are not corrected.
Seattle police say they will continue monitoring the property as part of ongoing efforts to reduce trafficking and improve public safety along Aurora Avenue. Community members are encouraged to report suspected trafficking or criminal activity as the city increases enforcement along the corridor.
Sources: KOMO News, KIRO 7 News, Seattle Police Department